Review by Markus Hamence – California Crooners Club – Performance date: Saturday 28 February 2026. Gluttony, Adelaide, South Australia
Throw the suits and songs of jazz into a cocktail shaker, add in a splash of R&B, a dash of rap, a double pour of pop, shake it with Hugh Sheridan’s swizzle stick, and you get his ‘California Crooners Club!’ Shaken, stirred, and served with Hugh’s signature charm, this is a musical cocktail showstopper.
Emile Welman and Isaiah Firebrace, two celebrated modern crooners will join Hugh.
With timeless songs reimagined in dazzling style, these world-class singers will deliver a night of rhythm, romance, and sheer joy. Expect slick suits, golden harmonies, and irresistible grooves as the ‘Club’ takes you from vintage croon to modern cool — all with a wink, a smile, a swagger and a whole lot of heart.
California Crooners Club opens with it run at the Adelaide Fringe with undeniable late-night cool – part live concert, part Hollywood lounge fantasy, and completely tuned into a modern audience craving big vocals, personality and pure atmosphere. A humid afternoon in town and extra warm Gluttony’s The Flamingo, it doesn’t take long for the suits to be stripped back to just black t-shirts.
“Hugh continues to bring his fathers vibrant and professional energy to the stage and his performance…”
Markus Hamence
The show flips the crooner concept on its head. Rather than leaning into nostalgia, this production feels like a reinvention – classic swing influence fused with contemporary pop, soul and R&B energy. At the centre is Hugh Sheridan, effortlessly steering the night as host, storyteller and charismatic frontman, keeping the momentum loose, playful and electric. Hugh continues to bring his fathers vibrant and professional energy to the stage and his performance. With a tear in his eye, Dennis would be looking down as a very proud father.
Sheridan is joined by powerhouse performers Emile Welman and Isaiah Firebrace who equally command attention centre stage, and together the trio create a vocal lineup that genuinely elevates the experience. Backed by a tight three piece band Welman brings smooth sophistication and dynamic range, grounding the show with rich tonal depth, while Firebrace injects emotional punch and modern pop sensibility that lands instantly with the crowd. Their voices blend beautifully but also shine individually, giving the performance constant variety and lift.
What makes California Crooners Club resonate is how contemporary it feels. This isn’t a retro tribute – it plays more like a live playlist you didn’t realise you needed, moving seamlessly between soulful ballads, reworked classics and high-energy moments that transform the tent into a full-scale Fringe party. The live band keeps everything running smoothy, on time and groove-driven, allowing each performer space to connect directly with the audience.
There’s an easy chemistry on stage that feels authentic rather than rehearsed – mates sharing music they love, bouncing off one another and bringing the crowd along for the ride. It is relaxed, chilled and upbeat and vibey all at the same time. The result is immersive, stylish and refreshingly unpretentious. It’s fun, engaging and you leave with happy vibes.
“The result (of this show) is immersive, stylish and refreshingly unpretentious…”
Markus Hamence
The set list was impeccable and varied, and, something for everyone…from Sinatra to Olivia Dean and Frankie Valli to Wicked the diversity was welcomed gleefully. If you weren’t tapping your foot and clapping your hands you were dancing and if you weren’t hummin’ along or mouthing the words, you were singing out load and proud. Hugh, Emile and Isaiah (His first perormance with CCC AND his first Sdelaide Fringe) spent much of the time sitting on the edge of the stage which broke down the performer/audience wall, as well as dancing up and down the aisles, whisking us up out of our chairs for spins and hugs. This show was ‘anything goes’ J.O.Y!
In a festival packed with spectacle, California Crooners Club stands out by delivering something effortlessly cool: elite vocals, contemporary flair and an hour of escapism that feels polished without losing its spontaneity.
You walk out feeling like you’ve just discovered Adelaide’s hottest pop-up music club – slick, soulful and completely in the moment.
California Crooners Club
Saturday 28 February – Monday 09 March 2026
The Flamingo at Gluttony – Rymill Park
Tickets
Check out Markus’ Interview with Hugh Sheridan
Follow California Crooners Club on Facebook
